Electrical connector



y 18, 1948- c. H. REYNOLDS, f 2,441,921

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 9, 1943 v J/vvE/vroi? Can: H Reyna/0Q Patented May 1%, i948 UNITED stares ZA EESZI rear Price ELECTRICAL CQN'NECTOR Charles H. Reynolds, Maldem lilass.,,, assignor to Albert & .l. M. Anderson Manufacturing Com- 7 parry, South Erosion, Mass, a

Massachusetts;

corporation of Application November 9, 1943', Serial No. 599,550

to an electrical con- The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved electrical connector of the type illustrated in my United States Patent No. 2,125,816, which is of a simplified construction, which may be economically manufactured and used efficiently as a universal. connector upon cables and the like.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the electrical connector and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts in longitudinal section of two connectors embodying the invention prior to engagement; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the connector in engagement; Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views on lines 3-3 and 1-4 of Fig. 1, respectively; and Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In general, the present connector is of such construction as to enable it to be used as a universal or either end connector capable of use for the general purposes for which the connector shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,125,816 may be used. The-present connector is of simplified construction adapted for economical production and is pa ticularly suitable for use in small sizes for connecting individual wires.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, It represents the body portion of the connector which is preferably made of metal, such as copper, and provided with a socket 12 at one end thereof for the reception of the Wire or cable It, the latter being preferably soldered or otherwise secured within the socket l2. The body portion is is preferably elongated as shown and shaped at its end portion remote from the socket l2 with at least two segmental shaped fingers or contact members l6, Hi. In practice the contact fingers l5, 18 may be forged or otherwise formed to pro vide segmentalspaces 2E, 22 between the fingers, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The spaces 20, 22 correspond in shape, size and taper to the individual fingers l5. l8.'sothat when one connector is telescoped with an identical connector'in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, the fingers of one connector snugly fit into the spaces in the second connector,

and the contact surfaces of one connector frictionally engage the contact surfaces of the fingers tions, and the metal collar 39 or equivalent of (or. earrcs) ofv the second connector to provide the. desired electrical connection illustrated in Fig. 2 and in section in Fig. 5. In practice the. individual fingers l6, [5 may and preferably will be separated by a slot 24 and the fingers shaped with relation to the intervening spaces 21 22 so that when the connection is made and one connector is engaged with the second connector, the fingers l6, l8 are sprung slightly to assist in maintaining frictional contact between the contacting faces of the fingers of the respective connectors.

In order to insure that the fingers of one con nector are firmly held in frictional engagement with contacting faces of the fingers of-the second connector, provision is made for exerting an inward radial pressure against the end portion of the fingers of the two cooperating connectors. In practice I prefer to provide a metal sleeve 30 secured to the body portion ill of the connector as by being. driven thereon in a position such that the ends of the fingers of the second con nector are forced in under the beveled forward edge 32 of the sleeve 30 when the connection is made, thereby exerting an inward thrust against the end of the fingers of the second connector and causing the contacting surfaces thereof to be maintained in efiicient electrical engagement with the corresponding surfaces of the fingers of the first connector.

Provision may also be made for resisting disengagement of the connectors after the connec tion has been made, and in one form of the invention the ring or sleeve 30 may be provided with a raised portion 4% on its inner face adapted to cooperate with a depressed portion 32 in the corresponding position of the fingers of the other connector, as illustrated in Fig. 2, although it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect as other forms of locking means may be employed if desired.

As above pointed out, the present connector may be used as a universal coupling member in place of the usual plug and socket members, and finds particular use in connecting individual wires in electrical circuits carrying low tension and not too excessive currents. The structure may be inexpensively produced by drop forging operation has been herein illustrated and described, it

will be understood that the invention may be em-.

bodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising a connector including a body portion adapted for connection to a cable and carrying at least two spaced slightly sprung contact members generally sector-shaped in cross-section adapted for cooperation with correspondingly shaped contact members of a second identical connector, the spaces between the side surfaces of the contact members being of a, size and shape corresponding substantially to the size and shape of said contact members to permit telescoping therewith of the second identical connector in making an electrical connection, the apices of said contact members being spaced apart, a rigid ring mounted upon said body portion and projecting over the contact members associated therewith for a distance not exceeding one-half the length of said contact members, said ring being adapted to engage the end portions of the contact members of the second connector when the connection is made and serving to exert an inward pressure on the sprung contact members of the second connector when the connection is made, said ring also having a projection engageable with a recess in a contact member of the second connector for locking the connector members together.

CHARLES H. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

